All About Hot Swap Connectors

Posted on February 25, 2020 Henry Fayol Connectors

When inevitable issues arise in your electronic system, the age old answer is always “did you try turning it on and off again?” While this may be a suitable answer for a personal computer or mobile phone, this is not always acceptable for servers and networks where downtime warrants major issues and setbacks for a company or service. When these systems eventually need parts replacement, additions, or removals, they need to be serviced in a way that does not require powering down or interrupting the system. Luckily, the solution to this problem comes in the form of hot swap connectors and hot swapping.

In its most basic terms, hot swapping is simply the procedure of replacing or adding equipment without powering down or interrupting a live system. This can be conducted when a part malfunctions, needs updating, or when peripherals need to be added or removed. That being established, hot swapping can be as simple as plugging in a mouse or as complicated as replacing an entire power unit for a system. Some hardware is often unable to be hot swapped, such as CPUs and memory, as these components typically require powering down to be fully installed. Servers are somewhat of an exception as equipment such as PCIe and SATA drives may be swapped, added, and removed without interrupting the system. Electronic systems may also be designed with redundant parts such that when a part is removed, the redundant part can take over and the system as a whole is unaffected.

When deciding to conduct a hot swap of peripherals or components, it is always crucial to take care in procedure as to not damage the system. With hot swap connectors, staggered pins are utilized for establishing ground and local power. The hot swap connectors then connect the new device to the system by first grounding it, connecting the data lines, then lastly powering it. Controllers also benefit hot swapping by providing for safe removal of components while preventing short circuiting. This is done by having the hot swap controller maintain the inrush current of uncharged capacitors. By utilizing hot swap connectors and controllers in tandem, a quick and easy swap can be made without damaging or interrupting the system.

Within the aerospace industry, you may come across a time when you will have to hot swap aviation connectors for an electronic system. There are many types of aviation connectors, ranging from pressurized connectors to those that are moisture and vibration resistant. The uses of aviation connectors also encompass all of the electronic needs of an aircraft, thus ensuring that systems are never damaged during swapping is very important.

When the time comes to swap out parts for your electrical system, hot swap connectors can be very useful to avoid having to face downtime or damage risks. At ASAP Parts Services, we can help you source all the electronic and aviation parts you need, quick and easy. Our expert team can provide you with some of the industry’s quickest lead-times on parts you need, and our dedicated account managers are on hand to help you with the purchasing process as needed.

ASAP Part Services is owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, and we can help you find hot swap connectors and aviation connectors you need, new or obsolete. As a premier supplier of connector parts for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries, we're always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7x365. ASAP Semiconductor is an FAA AC 00-56B accredited and ISO 9001:2015 certified enterprise and is the only independent distributor with a no China sourcing policy. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asap-partservices.com or call us at +1-702-919-1616.


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